The original lineups of the band KISS were:
Paul Stanley (vocals and rhythm guitar): Born Janaury 20, 1952, age 64 (as of this writing)
Gene Simmons (vocals and bass guitar): Born August 25, 1949, age 67 (as of this writing)
Ace Frehley (lead guitar and vocals): Born April 27, 1951, age 64 (as of this writing)
Peter Criss (drums, percussion and vocals): Born December 20, 1945, age 71 (as of this writing)
KISS is an American rock band formed in New York City in December 1972. Easily identified by its members' trademark face paint and stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid and late-1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting, smoking guitars, and pyrotechnics. Kiss has been awarded 24 gold albums to date.The band has sold over 85 million albums to date.
With their makeup and costumes, they took on the personae of comic book-style characters:
The Demon (Simmons), Starchild (Stanley), Spaceman (Frehley), and Catman (Criss). The band explains that the fans were the ones who ultimately chose their makeup designs. The "Demon" makeup reflected Gene's cynicism and dark elements, as well as his love for comic books.
Paul Stanley became the "Starchild" due to his tendency to be referred to as the "starry-eyed lover" and "hopeless romantic." Ace Frehley's "Spaceman" makeup was a reflection of him wanting to go for a ride in a space ship and supposedly being from another planet.
Peter Criss' "Catman" makeup was in accordance with the belief that Peter had nine lives due to his rough childhood in Brooklyn. Due to creative differences, both Criss and Frehley were out of the group by 1982. The band's commercial fortunes had also waned considerably by that point.
Find Kiss discography, albums and singles on AllMusic.
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